DOES YOUR EXISTING LAB CONSUME TOO MUCH ENERGY?
How do you even start to answer this question? Have you ever been in a situation where the operating expenses for your laboratory facility continued to increase while your day to day processes stayed the same over the last 10 years? Just as time ages the human body, it also affects your laboratory facility’s energy consumption. These complex facilities require constant maintenance to ensure energy productivity.

A “healthy” facility is an energy-efficient facility. Implementing an energy improvement plan may seem expensive at first, but the long term benefits outweigh the initial costs.

WHAT ENERGY CONSERVATION FEATURES SHOULD BE IN EACH LABORATORY?
This question has a big impact on a facility’s operating expenses and may differ based on processes and laboratory function and type. Forensic laboratories and medical examiner facilities are complex building types that consume a high rate of energy per square foot, compared to other types of facilities. Abnormally high energy costs consume financial resources that would otherwise be used for recruitment and retention of staff, equipment upgrades, and supplies, just to name a few. Unfortunately, energy costs will continue to rise because of global warming concerns and depletion of non-renewable energy sources; but there are steps you can take to make your facility run more energy efficient.

WHAT DRIVES THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY USED IN YOUR FACILITY?
Before implementing an energy improvement plan, first understand how and where the most energy is consumed. The major energy users in forensic laboratories and medical examiner facilities can be separated into four main categories:

• Thermal – Heating and cooling the building, including treatment of fresh air
• Ventilation – Supply, return, and exhaust air systems
• Lighting – Office, laboratory, and outdoor areas
• Technology and Process – Scientific equipment and technology

Exactly how much energy is used within each of these categories is dependent upon a number of variables, including location of the building, hours of operation, and types of mechanical and electrical systems within the facility. Often, electric and natural gas bills are the only record of energy consumption; so how do you determine how much electricity was used for specific items; for example, computers or exhaust fans?

Start by collecting all of the possible data about the existing facilities. Then review the facility drawings, air balance report, and past utility bills. These items do not contain the whole story of how the facility operates, but they are a starting point to understand where the most energy is consumed. Also, it is helpful to interview maintenance personnel to understand facility changes that have occurred over time. Keep an open mind during these interviews, as this information is subject to that individual’s opinion. For example, cleaning crews are instructed to turn off all lights at the end of their shift. Does this always happen? Another step you should take is to visit the facility during unoccupied times as well as occupied hours, as this will expose areas of energy consumption that can easily be avoided.